In Perspective: Belief comes from hearing the gospel, not watching a movie

Romans 10:13-14 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

When I was finishing up my time in seminary, a movie came out called The Passion of the Christ. The Christian community was all in a frenzy. They were so excited. This would be one of the most wonderful opportunities to see the gospel spread throughout our country and perhaps the world, I would hear Christians say. I thought perhaps I was missing something. I couldn’t understand what they were so excited about. Churches were buying up tickets left and right. They were buying showings up for whole theaters so that people from their churches could attend and invite guests. It was sheer lunacy. And do you know what? Years later there was no discernible evidence that this movie had any impact on bringing any number of people to faith.

Now there is another movie out there. The Son of God. The Christian community has once again gotten into a frenzy. Churches are once again buying up tickets and whole theaters as well. They want all their people to see the movie. They want to invite nonbelievers to see the movie. They think this will be a wonderful opportunity for mutlitudes to come to faith.

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Can I say something? Can we just stop all this nonsense. It’s really sad. I saw The Passion of the Christ. I enjoyed it. I thought it was interesting to see a visual portrayal of what things might have looked like. But you know what? No where in that movie was the gospel presented. I saw a man who was supposed to be Jesus beaten severely, crucified and ultimately killed. But that is not the gospel.

I have not seen the movie The Son of Man. I am not opposed to it, but I know what I will see. In fact, in large part it appears to be edits and additions to the television mini series, The Bible. And I know that the movie doesn’t present the gospel. It portrays some historical events. But never, not once is the gospel presented.

Can we please as Christians come to believe what God says. People come to believe by hearing the gospel. No one will come to believe by watching a movie of a man getting beaten and killed. They might feel bad for the man. They might even believe that Jesus really did die this way and he did. But Jesus never wanted our sympathy. In fact, the physical pain he took upon himself was not that big of a deal. And that is what is missing in all these movies.

So, if you want to use the movie as an opportunity to share the gospel with a friend, would you do me a favor? Share the gospel with them after they see it. What’s the gospel? Every person is separated from God by their sin. No one is righteous, no not one. God’s standard is perfection and that is what he demands from all people if they wish to dwell in his presence and have eternal life. All in fact have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and the wages of sin is death. That means every person, apart from Christ is an enemy of God who stands condemned before God and who awaits entrance into the fiery torments of Hell for all of eternity where they will be separated from every vestige of anything good, including God’s grace, love and mercy.

Yet, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He lived the perfect life we couldn’t in our place. And he took the wrath of God that we deserved upon himself in the place of those who would believe in him (that’s the Biblical terminology for trust and obey) and in turn placed his righteousness upon them. What does that mean? It means by the work of Christ, those who believe by grace through faith are considered perfectly justified by God and eneter into an etneral relationship with him where they will be cared for perfectly, provided for perfectly, have all of their needs and desires not just met but exceeded beyone their wildest dreams, and who await in this life, entrance into sinless perfection with God in a perfect creation so we might fully live as we were made to live.

So, let’s take the movies for what they really are. Ways for people to make a lot of money. There is nothing wrong with that in and of itself. But let’s not fall into the trap of thinking that a movie is going to save anyone. Perhaps God might allow us to use it as an opportunity to present the gospel, but unless we present the gospel, no one comes to believe.

Let us live wisely my friends as we walk by the Spirit for God’s glory. Lives are at stake.

The Rev. Jon Tripp is the pastor of God’s Grace Bible Church in Downingtown. His column appears every other week in the Daily Local News. To contact him, call 610-441-2387 or send an e-mail to pastorjon@godsgracebible.org.